We know … It’s cold!

Temperatures stay below zero to end 2017

January 3, 2018

With this first edition of 2018 not reaching mailboxes until Jan. 2, area residents will have survived the worst cold spell of the 2017-18 winter.

Readings from the Estherville Municipal Airport indicate temperatures reached minus-21 degrees Fahrenheit between 7 and 9 a.m. on the last day of 2017 (Sunday).

The National Weather Service forecast for Estherville indicates Tuesday should be the warmest day of the work week with highs reaching 12 degrees. Highs will barely be above 0 over the next two days with a high of 4 degrees forecast for Wednesday and 3 degrees on Thursday.

Article Photos

Friday’s snowfall in Emmet County was followed by intense cold over the weekend. Lows reached minus 21 degrees Fahrenheit on Sunday. Windchills Sunday were 30-plus degrees below zero.Photo by Amy H. Peterson

Lows are expected to hit minus-13 Wednesday night.

The turnaround comes on Friday with a high near 9 degrees and a low near 0 with Saturday's forecasted high of a balmy 18 degrees.

Looking at weather.com, its 10-day forecast indicates Sunday with be the first of four days with highs in the 20s. While colder weather then returns, subzero temperatures aren't expected through Jan. 14.

And while weather.com indicates there is a minimal chance of snow for the first two weeks of 2018, Iowans know the weather can change in the blink of an eye.